Tryfan routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
918 m ยท Snowdonia
Tryfan is the rocky fin above Llyn Ogwen in Snowdonia, a summit you cannot reach without using your hands.
Peakify lists 3 measured routes up Tryfan, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Tryfan routes, easiest to hardest
Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Ridge from Llyn Ogwen | A5 lay-by below Milestone Buttress | 1.3 km one way | 620 m | 1h 20m | 1h 35m | Scramble |
| Heather Terrace and South Ridge | Pont Wern-gof / Gwern Gof Uchaf approach | 3.9 km one way | 730 m | 2h 0m | 2h 45m | Scramble |
| South Ridge | Pont Wern-gof / Gwern Gof Uchaf approach | 3.5 km one way | 620 m | 1h 45m | 2h 25m | Scramble |
Tryfan route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Tryfan route
North Ridge from Llyn Ogwen
A grade one scramble up the North Ridge over rock steps to the summit. It starts from A5 lay-by below Milestone Buttress. 1.3 km one way with 620 m of ascent. About 1h 20m to the summit and 1h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.
Heather Terrace and South Ridge
A path across the east face to Bwlch Tryfan, then a scramble up the South Ridge. It starts from Pont Wern-gof / Gwern Gof Uchaf approach. 3.9 km one way with 730 m of ascent. About 2h 0m to the summit and 2h 45m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.
South Ridge
A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Pont Wern-gof / Gwern Gof Uchaf approach. It starts from Pont Wern-gof / Gwern Gof Uchaf approach. 3.5 km one way with 620 m of ascent. About 1h 45m to the summit and 2h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.
Tryfan route GPX
Download a GPX for each route with a track: North Ridge from Llyn Ogwen, Heather Terrace and South Ridge, South Ridge. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Tryfan today and the Tryfan 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Tryfan routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Tryfan, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Tryfan
What is the easiest route up Tryfan?
North Ridge from Llyn Ogwen has the easiest grade of the 3 routes listed here (Scramble).
How much time does each Tryfan route take?
North Ridge from Llyn Ogwen: about 1h 20m up and 1h 35m there and back. Heather Terrace and South Ridge: about 2h 0m up and 2h 45m there and back. South Ridge: about 1h 45m up and 2h 25m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Tryfan route?
Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.